Thanks to the masses of snow

The home World Cup in the Montafon will be “massive”

The time has finally come this weekend: for the first time since December 2021, the Snowboardcross World Cup is back in the Montafon. On their return, Olympic champion Alessandro Hämmerle and co. can expect not only the usual top atmosphere, but also a "massive" course that should be just to the 30-year-old's taste.

"For my generation, it's much more relaxed when the obstacles are bigger, it's a real blast and we're not riding a slalom cross," said Alessandro "Izzi" Hämmerle, making no secret of his preferences when it comes to course design and the fact that he's not entirely happy with the developments of recent years.

Luca Hämmerle, world champion Jakob Dusek and Olympic champion Alessandri "Izzi" Hämmerle answered questions from "Krone Vorarlberg" sports director Peter Weihs in the run-up to the Montafon World Cup at the Hotel Montafoner Hof.(Bild: Montafon Tourismus/Marie Rudigier)

Masses of snow allowed a "massive" course
The 30-year-old should feel even more comfortable at his home races this weekend on the Grasjoch - where he will be racing for the first time and where the 2027 World Championship medals will also be at stake - than he already did in the Silvretta Montafon. Because: "The course will be massive," promises mastermind Chisi Speckle. "We already had two meters of snow in December. While it kept raining in the valley, more and more snow was added at the top. We were able to build the turns so big that you can ski on the ridge with a snowcat and skidoos. That's never happened before."

The start section looks mighty.(Bild: Montafon Tourismus/Josef Manahl)

The helpers have been working hard over the last few days.(Bild: Montafon Tourismus/Josef Manahl)

The masses of snow made it possible to build large obstacles.(Bild: Montafon Tourismus/Josef Manahl)

The finish area at the Fredakopf can also be reached on foot.(Bild: Montafon Tourismus/Josef Manahl)

Everything should be ready by the qualifying on Friday.(Bild: Montafon Tourismus/Josef Manahl)

"Sport on the mountain and party in the valley"
In the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, another 40 centimetres were added to the course - but now it's enough. "The forecasts for the next few days are okay. It's important that it's halfway right on Saturday too," hopes Speckle. From 2.15 p.m., it's not just about the first points on the mountain, but also about the party in the valley. A top-class Austrian music act, the band "folxhilfe", has been booked to perform from 6 pm. Unlike in the past, however, the concert will not take place in Schruns, but in Silvretta Park Montafon in St. Gallenkirch.